ences. Such a book to be valuable must be full, clear, and trustworthy. It must be substantially a compilation, and the only question to be asked is, Has the work been performed with discrimination and accuracy? Dr. Sherman enjoyed a great advantage in having been preceded in this field by so conscientious and painstaking an explorer as Dr. Robert Emory, (not Bishop Emory, as the editorial page of "Zion's Herald " mistakingly announced,) whose work he justly describes as characterized by careful research and neatness and accuracy of statement." He objects, however, to Emory's method as affording rather a "mass of materials for a history than the history itself." At the time Emory's work appeared there was "no model for such a work in all the range of civil and ecclesiastical law books," and we think that, in view of the limited knowledge then possessed on the subject by the Church, his method was the best that could be adopted. The period, however, has fully come for a new work on the subject. Several supplements had been added to the former standard, and the recent introduction of the lay element into the General Conference affords a most appropriate occasion for the production of another "History of the Discipline." The present work contains a valuable abstract of the doings of the General Conferences, and sketches of the lives of the bishops, as well as much information subordinate to its main purpose. And the examination which, we have given it warrants the conclusion that the work has been faithfully done, and that the Church may rely upon it as giving at a glance the history of the progressive legislation under which the Methodist Episcopal Church has grown from its humble and unorganized beginning to the present symmetrical and complicated ecclesiastical establishment. There are, it is true, some insignificant defects, but not such as to call for special mention here. The style of the work is clear but not finished, and in some instances the author, in point of correct writing, does not maintain his usual level. B. Educational. Latin Hymns, with English Notes, for use in Schools and Colleges. By F. A. MARCH, LL.D. 12mo., pp. 333. New York: Harper & Brothers. The Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius. The first Book and Selections. Edited for Schools and Colleges by F. A. MARCH, LL.D. With an Introduction by A. Ballard, D.D., and Explanatory Notes by W. Bowen, A.M. 12mo., pp. 279. New York: Harper & Bros. 1874. These Medieval Hymns and this Eusebius, with notes for beginners, are a suggestive novelty. They give us specimens of two great languages, applied to themes quite as attractive as the old mythologies, and fully exhibiting the power and beauty of the old dead tongues. For our theological courses, at any rate, if not for our colleges, these present themselves as very admirable text-books. Periodicals. The ATLANTIC MONTHLY lives, flourishes, and preserves, we are happy to say, a faithful punctuality in coming to our table. It fills its place in elegant literature with all its ancient ability. It views the questions of the day from even a more "advanced" stand-point than in its early years. We need not say that in literary finish, and in thorough scholarship, it has no superior. The LADIES' REPOSITORY pays us her monthly visits, ever welcome to our office, and still more welcome at our home. It counts up a numerous and able corps of contributors. Its editorials were never so ringing and spicy. We have not the slightest purpose of nominating its editor for the Episcopacy. But we do think it queer that that feminine periodical should have furnished so many bishops, and our manly Quarterly never a one! The only creditable and credible reason we can manufacture for such persistent oversight is, that perhaps the General Conference thinks that removal from the Quarterly to the Episcopate would be no promotion. We beg leave to dissent very often from the opinions expressed in THE NATION. In religion it seems rationalistic; in philosophy it tends to the materialistic; in politics it is crotchety, yet independent, and, generally, intentionally conscientious. But we could ill afford to spare the reading, we might sometimes say the study, of its pages. Its paragraphic reports of weekly events are trenchant, often spiced with saturnine humor. Its essays on very complex subjects are penetrative, suggestive, and thorough. Its summaries of foreign literature are unsurpassed for richness of scholarship. Altogether, our periodical literature has never had any thing quite like The Nation. We are a thorough reader of our METHODIST ADVOCATE, edited by Dr. Fuller, and published in ATLANTA, GA. We study most carefully the phases it exhibits of "the situation" in that interesting region. Whoever among us wishes to understand the South, and especially Methodism in the South, should take this paper. And while to us of the North it is invaluable as a reporter, it is equally valuable to the South as a monitor. Nothing is more important to a government or a people than a free press. Had the South possessed free newspapers, daring to tell the truth on the other side, our late civil war would never have been. Our Advocate is thus one of the safeguards of the South. And in Dr. Fuller's hands it will flinch from no needed utterances. We may be sure that amid perils and changes it is true to its trust-" that flag is still there." The Canadian Methodist Magazine. Devoted to Religion, Literature, and Social Progress. Toronto: Samuel Rose, Methodist Book Room. Halifax: Alexander W. Nicolson, Methodist Book Room. January, 1873. We welcome the appearance of a periodical of higher Christian literature among our friends in Canada. The columns of the "Christian Guardian " have long shown that Canadian Methodism possessed an amount of talent that demanded a medium for a literature of more permanent form. The magazine, affording space for articles of more elaborate range, will call out a higher grade of production. Its editor is our well-known contributor, W. H. Withrow, A.M., author of the standard work on the "Catacombs." The leading article is a fresh and vigorous Life of Arminius, with a portrait, by Mr. Dewart. The article on the Canadian General Conference gives us a fuller and clearer view of the situation than we had elsewhere derived. Peace and prosperity to our sister Methodism, and success to her new organ, are our hearty prayer! Foreign Publications. The Letter Books of Sir Amias Poulet, Keeper of Mary Queen of Scots. Edited by JOHN MORRIS, President of the Society of Jesus. 8vo. London, 1874. Another contribution this to the history of that famous woman "whose name," says Froude, (History of England, vol. vii, p. 369,) “will never be spoken of in history without sad and profound emotion." We may question her part in the memorable event of February 9, 1567, when the small mansion near Edinburgh, where now stands the south-east corner of the celebrated Scotch University, then containing the sick-worn body of her husband, Darnley, was blown up by gunpowder, and thus was suddenly brought to a close the terrestrial career of him to whom Mary on the night of the assassination of her lover, Rizzio, had spoken these ominous words: "I shall never rest till I give you as sorrowful a heart as I have at this present." The "Jewel Letters” clearly condemn her; but then the authenticity of those is not al together settled. (See Meline, Mary Queen of Scots, and her latest English historian, 8vo., New York, 1872, and Professor Fisher, History of the Reformation, p. 376.) There have, however, hitherto been few to question Scotch Queen Mary's complicity in an attempt to dethrone her cousin Elizabeth, and of seeking herself the rule over united England and Scotland. But at last the Society of Jesus has raised up the man who, tracing the history of the last three years of her nineteen years' captivity, in the letters of her last prison keeper, Poulet, is bold enough to come forward and declare her unjustly accused, and to pronounce Elizabeth herself, and her cunning councilor, Walsingham, guilty of an attempt to defame Mary's character, and thus make her a fit subject of the gallows. We must confess that the boldness of Mr. Morris may confuse and even gain over superficial inquirers of this very important case. Closer examination and reading of contemporary authorities, however, will soon undo all mischief his work may create. At the "Record Office" in London one may find this day a letter from Mary Stuart, implicating her, beyond the shadow of a doubt, with the crime with which she stands charged by Elizabeth and her ministry, and Mr. Morris's attempt (pp. 239-242) to impeach the genuineness of that letter is mere Jesuit twaddle. Indeed, he writes too much like another of Mary's defenders-Hosack (Mary Queen of Scots and her Accusers, second edition, 2 vols. 8vo., London, 1870)—and as of him so also it may be said of Morris, that "he writes in such a vein ast would befit him were he indeed earning a lawyer's fee by a lawyer's service." Revista de la Universidad de Madrid. J. H. W. The re-awakening of intellectual life in the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula is certainly a hopeful sign. The struggle for freedom has been continued so long, and seems yet so far distant in its termination, that the recent efforts of the Spanish literati to spread culture among all classes of society are warmly welcomed by all liberty loving students as the harbingers of better days soon to dawn upon Spain. But one of the most important of recent literary enterprises, deserving our most special attention, is the publication of a Review by the University of Madrid, to which. all schools of thought and all opinions are welcome, provided, however, always "that the general tone of the contributions indicate a belief in a personal Deity, and in the ordering of the uni verse by Divine laws." The "Review" has made its debut under the editorship of the Rector of the Madrid University, and bears evidence of much intellectual activity in the various branches of literature among Spaniards. The papers would be a credit to any of the British Reviews, particularly those by Don Francisco Simonet, the Professor of Arabic in the University of Granada, which treat of Muz-Arabic literature. There has been little done hitherto to bring into clear light the valuable monuments of MuzArabic Christian literature, and we hope these papers by Professor Simonet are only the first earnings of a devoted study to a work sure to reflect credit on Spain if prosecuted to more definite purpose. How little we know of the relation which the Arabians sustained toward the schoolmen! J. H. W. Miscellaneous. Prize Essay. Go or Send: a Plea for Missions. By ATTICUS G. HAYGOOD, D.D., of the North Georgia Conference. Nashville, Tenn.: Southern Methodist Publishing House. 1874. The Principles and Facts of Missions, and the Obligations of the Church to Support Mission Work. By REV. HOMER S. THRALL, of the Texas Conference. Nashville, Thoughts on Missions; or, an Essay Setting Forth the Principles, Facts, and Obligations of Christian Missions. By W. G. E. CUNNYNGHAM, D.D., of the Holston Conference. Nashville, Tenn.: Southern Methodist Publishing House. 1874. Go or Die. By DAVID C. KELLEY, D.D., of the Tennessee Conference. Nashville, Tenn.: Southern Methodist Publishing House. 1874. These six Tracts on Missions were the result of a premium offered by the Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in 1873, for the best Essay on this important subject. The premium was adjudicated to Mr. Haygood, the author of the first in order above. But the committee wisely decided that the others were too good to be lost. They each take an independent route of thought, but converge to the same great point. They spread out the facts before the eye of the Church; they open the grandeur of the work to which she is called; they impress the solemn duty binding on every individual to contribute his share; they call for the men to consecrate themselves to the mission work, and portray the qualifications of the true missionary. This is a noble opening of the subject. We trust that the Church South herein means business, and will attain success. |